Nail-feeding mechanism



Jan. 3, 967

G.A.COOLEY ETAL NAIL-FEEDING MECHANI SM Original Filed Dec. 6, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3, W67 G, A. cOoLl-:Y ET AL QZQSW NAIL-FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 6, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 3, 967 A. COOLEY ET AL 3,295,739

NAIL-FEED ING MEGHANI SM 8 SheeisSheet 5 Original Filed Deo. 6, 1963 Jan. 3, 1967 A, COQLEY ET AL 3,295,7l9

NAIL-FEEDING MECHANI SM Original Filed Dec. 6. 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 3,; 1967 G. A. COOLEY ET AL 3,295,79

NALFEEDING MECHANI SM Original Filed Dec. 6. 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 3 i967 e. A. COOLEY ET Aa.v 3,2%,79

NAIL-FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 6. 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 /4 w /z f g y y /f if f/ t Uff@ 1% 5155,., \\ff ff L /z I; W mkm H H B fr f ai w' A Jan. 3, W67 G. A. COOLEY ET AL NAIL-FEEDING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed DGO. 6, 1963 Jan. 3, 1967 G, A. COOLEY ET AL Bgfzgfm@ NAIL-FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 6, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 United States Patent C) 3,295,719 NAIL-FEEDING MECHANISM Gordon A. Cooley, Chicago, and Philip Kaye, Wilmette, lll., assgnors to The Deniston Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Original application Dec. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 328,549, now Patent No. 3,255,474, dated .lune 14, 1966. Divided and this appiication Dec. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 515,975 4 Claims. (Cl. 221--277) This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 328,549, led December 6, 1963, now Patent No. 3,255,474.

This invention relates to a means and method of forming a product known as a lead-headed nail.

Presently known machinery and methods for permanently securing lead caps or washers on the heads and Shanks of wire nails 'involve the hammering of the nail and washer in suitably formed dies. The production rate of Vsuch prior machinery and methods is yunsatisfactorily -low and the constant hammering is productive of injury to and consequent down time of the machinery. Prior machines and methods are also subject to and productive of disturbing noise and vibration. The constant pounding or hammering employed in the present impact machines and method is further destructive of the floor for such machinery. Accordingly, it is one purpose of the invention to provide a means and method for permanently securing lead caps or washers on the heads and :Shanks of wire nails which shall achieve a much more rapid rate of production and which shall avoid all of the other unsatisfactory features of prior means and methods.

Another purpose lof the invention is to provide a means and method of making lead-headed nails which shall produce such products at a minimum rate of one thousand per minute.

Another opurpose is to provide a means and method of forming lead-headed nails wherein a nail and head are secured smoothly and without hammer or impact.

Another purpose is to provide a unitary machine assembly having elements effective rapidly to mate a lead washer `and a nail and to secure the same together.

Another purpose is to provide a machine assembly incorporating a washer-feeding mechanism, a nail-feeding mechanism and a mechanism for securing the washer and nail together.

Another purpose is to provide a unitary machine assembly having washer-feeding7 nail-feeding and productforming means driven by a single power source.

Another purpose is to provide a means and method of forming lead-headed nails which shall employ a smooth application of pressure to the nail and a washer or head.

Another purpose is to provide a means and method of forming lead-headed nails which shall employ an adju-stably smooth application of pressure to the nail and -the lead head to secure the same together.

Another purpose is to provide a means and method of forming lead-headed nails which shall be positive in operation.

Another purpose is t-o provide a means and method of forming lead-headed nails which shall include automatic means for stopping the operation thereof in the event of the ingestion of an improper nail or washer.

Another purpose is to provide a means and method of forming lead-headed nails which shall be devoid of hammering impact action.

Another purpose is to =provide a means and method of forming lead-headed nails which shall employ a minirn'un number of moving parts.

Other purposes will appear from time to time during the course of the specification and claims.

ICC

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed View in partial cross section illustrating the major elements in the product-forming assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a View taken on the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2 and illustrating a detail portion of the washer and nail-feeding assemblies;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed top view illustrating a portion of the washer-feeding assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a View taken on the line 6-6 of FIG- URE 5 and illustrating portions of the washer-feeding and nail-washer-receiving assemblies;

FIGURE 7 is a View taken on the line 7-7 of FIG- URE 2 and illustrating a portion of the :nail-feeding assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 3 and illustrating the nail-feeding and nail-washer receiving assemblies;

FIGURE 9 is a view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG- URE 8 and illustrating portions of the nail-feeding and product-forming assemblies;

FIGURE l0 is a side elevation illustrating the press rod cam element of the product-forming assembly;

FIGURE 11 is a view of the press rod. cam assembly taken at degrees to the View of .FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is an end view of the product-discharge assembly in partial cross section; and

FIGURE 13 is a View of the end product of the inventions.

Like parts are indicated by like numerals throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, :and particularly to FIGURE l, the numeral 1 designates generally a base or support. The base 1 may be conveniently supported in any suitable manner, such as `by the legs 2. Rotatably supported on the base 1 is a product-forming turntable assembly 3. A fixed cam housing 4 is positioned above the assembly 3. A pressure roller 5 is pivotally supported, as indicated in dotted lines, on the xed shaft 6 as indicated at 7. Pressure is adjustably supplied to the roller 5 through a rod 8 pivotally secured as at 9 to the roller shaft 1t) and urged toward the :assembly 3 -by a plurality of springs 11 working against a plate 12 secured to shaft 8 and against a plate 13 secured to base 1. A nail-feeding turntable or `carousel 15 is rotably mounted on the base 1 adjacent the turret 3. A washer-feeding assembly 16 is also carried by the base 1 adjacent the turret 3. Suitable power means, for example the motor 17, is shown as carried by the ybase 1 and as having a driving connec-tion, described hereinbelow, with the turret 3 and assemblies 15, 16.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the numeral 2t) designates generally a separate portion of the pressure rod cam assembly and housing which is urged downwardly by its own weight under the influence of gravity, there being linear low friction bearings contained in upstanding .housings 21 and liner pins 21a effective to maintain alignment between cam 20 and housing 4.

The nail-feeding assembly 15 includes the carousel or turntable member 22, the upper surface of which is generally frustoconical and which carries a plurality of grooves 23 arranged in regular relationship to the radii of turntable member 22. W'hle each of the grooves 23 is straight, each is positioned on the member 22 to extend from the periphery thereof to the hollow core 24 of the member 15 in a path offset from the radial. A nail chute or track 25 is positioned to deliver nails to the core 24 and to present said nails sequentially to a roller 26 in rotating contact with the inner surface of the core 24. Shown 3 in dotted lines in FIGURE 2 is a nail ejector finger 27 fixedly mounted beneath the member 22.

A washer delivery chute or track 28 is shown in FIG- URE 2 and is positioned for delivery of washers to the turret assembly 3.

A product-ejector assembly 29 is shown in FIGURE 2 as including the wheel 30 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, outwardly radially extending fingers 31. The wheel 30 is carried by shaft 32 which is rotatably mounted in bosses 33. The .bosses 33 are spacedly mounted upon the upper surface of housing 4 and locate the shaft 32 in a radial plane with respect to the axis of rotation of turret 3. The housing 4 is cut away, as indicated at 35, to provide for the wheel 30.

A limit or cutoff' switch assembly 36 is associated with the housing 4 and safety cam portion 20, as will appear further hereinbelow.

The pressure roller includes a cylindrical portion 37 freely rotatable on shaft and a ange portion 38 carried by the portion 37 and having a chamfered, peripheral, pressure rod-contact surface 39.

For clarity and convenience herein, it will suffice to describe certain assemblies and elements in the singular, it being understood that a plurality of such assemblies and elements are present.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the fixed shaft 6 carries the turntable or turret assembly on bearing elements shown generally at 40, 41. The assembly 3 includes a central, hollow, cylindrical portion 42. The portion 42 carried at one end a gear member 43. As may be best seen in dotted lines, and as indicated at 44 in FIGURE l, the gear 43 meshes with a gear 45 driven by the power means 17 to rotate the turret 3. An annular flange 46 is positioned intermediate the ends of turret 3 and carries a plurality of fixed die members 47. The die members 47 are carried in a counterbore 48 which in turn communi- Cates with a bore 49 extending through the fiange 46.

A second annular ange portion 50 is carried by the turret 3 adjacent its end opposite the gear 43. A plurality of circumferentially spaced transverse passages or bores 51 are formed in the flange 50 and slidably receive a pressure rod member 52. Between the flanges 50, 46 the turret 3 is formed and adapted to carry a plurality of nail-and-washer-positioning assemblies indicated generally by the numeral 53.

The assembly 53 includes a block 54, the upper surface of which is slidable against a lower surface 55 on flange 50. The block 54 is urged outwardly by a cam and track assembly, below described, and by the spring 56 carried in a radially extending pocket 57 formed in the central cylindrical portion 42 of turret 3. Block 54 is carried by a shaft or rod 58 slidably positioned in a radially extending passage 59 in turret portion 42. The inner end of rod 58 rotatably carries a cam roller 60 which rides in a fixed cam track 61 formed in the annularly extending surface of a cam track member 62 fixed on the shaft 6. The member 62 is fixed in the shaft 6 as by a key 63 shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3 and in cross section in FIGURE 8. While the cam track 61 directs reciprocation of block 54 the spring 56 flexibly maintains block 54 in its outermost position against a die nose 47a.

The cam housing 4 is secured to an upper portion of shaft 6 in any suitable manner, as by a fastener such as that shown at 65 and may be located in relation to other components by a key 65a. The housing 4 has a laterally extending circumferential wall portion 66, the outer surface of which is formed to create the push rod cam track shown generally at 67 and described further hereinbelow. A circumferential skirt 68 is secured to an outer peripheral portion of the upper wall 69 of housing 4 and extends toward turret 3 in overlying relationship with the track 67 and with the upper edge of turret 3.

The upper portion of shaft 6 is laterally slotted as indicated in dotted lines at 70 in FIGURE 2 and as shown in FIGURE 3 in partial cross section. The shaft 10 includes a flattened end portion 10a through which a pivot pin extends, as indicated at 7.

Each pressure rod member 52 carries adjacent one of its ends an enlargement or head 52a which in turn rides in fixed cam track 67. As may be best seen in FIGURE 12, the heads 52a may be in contact about the periphery of cam 67, the passage 51 in turret flange 50 being positioned to provide for the maximum number of rod members 52 about the periphery of turret 3.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the numeral indicates apower shaft. The gear 81 on shaft 80 meshes with a gear 82 carried on a shaft 83. The shaft 83 is in turn mounted in bearings 84 carried by the base 1 and by a sub-base 1a positioned about the base 1. The gear 85 is secured to a shaft 86, which is in turn carried by bearings 87. The shaft 86 carries at one of its ends a pulley S8, the purpose of which will be described hereinbelow.

The gear 82 is also in mesh with a gear 90. The engagement of gears 82, and 90 may be seen partially in dotted lines in FIGURE 2. The gear 90 is secured, as by the key 91, to a hollow shaft 92. The shaft 92 carries the nail-feeding turntable 22 and is secured thereto by suitable means such as the fasteners 93. The tracks 23 are formed in a single turntable member 22. It will be understood, however, that the tracks 23 may be formed by spacing a plurality of individual segments forming the member 22 and, in that event, each such segment would be individually secured to a base member. As shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 4, as at 94, the bottom wall of tracks 23 parallels the inclined upper surface of the member 22 and the fasteners 93 extend downwardly for engagement with the base plate 95. The plate 95 is a segmental clamp plate facilitating adjustment of member 22 to provide a nail transfer which may either lead or lag the station in turret 3. The hollow core 24 in member 22 communicates with the area within hollow shaft 92, which in turn is positioned above a discharge chute 96 for delivery of any discarded nails outwardly of the assembly. The hollow shaft 92 is rotatably supported by suitable bearing means, such as that shown generally at 97, the said bearing assembly being supported on subframe plate 1a. Member 22 is substantially surrounded by a circumferential wall 98, the upper surface of which is positioned for sliding support of a nail head as member 22 rotates, the level, flat, outer, peripheral surface 22a serving also to support the nail head. As may be best seen in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, as at 99, the wall 98 is interrupted at the point of discharge of the nails from the tracks 23, the finger 27 being positioned adjacent the area of said interruption.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, the washer-delivery track 28 is positioned to deliver individual washers, such as those shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 5 at 100, to a turnstile or paddle member, also shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 5 at 101. The track member 28 has a pair of spaced parallel walls, the outer wall of which curves about the periphery of member 101 as indicated at 102, whereby washer 100 is engaged by a pair of adjacent paddle elements on the membern101 and is urged along the wall 102 which in turn is dircted tangentially from the member 101 to deliver washers to the turret 3, as will be further described hereinbelow. The member 101 is rotatably carried in a block 103, to the outer surface of which is secured a washer-positioning finger member 104. Any suitable means may be employed to secure the member 104, the fastener and clamp element 106 being illustrated. The member 104 consists of a base plate 107 arranged for securing to the outer surface of block 103 and a curved spring finger element 108 overlying the periphery of turret 3 and overlying the washer-receiving portion of assembly 53 described hereinbelow. A skirt (not shown) may be carried by finger 104 to close the open side of such washer receiver and such skirt could extend a distance suflicient to preclude washer escape prior to the nail insertion described below.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, it will be observed that the washer turnstile member 101 includes a shaft 101a rotatably supported by the block 103 and carrying at one of its ends the paddle elements 101b in alignment with the washer track 28. The opposite end of the shaft 10111 is secured to a pulley 1010. As may be best seen in FIGURE 2, pulley 101C is driven by a continuous belt 110 which is in turn driven by the sprocket 88, the latter appearing in greater detail in FIGURE 4.

As appears in FIGURES 5, 6 and 9, the block 54 of the assemblies 53 includes a washer-receiving radially extending flange segment 115. The segment 115 carries a centrally positioned nest for the washers 160. The nests 116 are generally U-shaped and outwardly open and are positioned over the die 47 when the parts are shown in the position illustrated in FIGURES 5, 6 and 9.

The die 47 has a circumferential upwardly extending die portion 47:1 having a rounded upper surface and an axial bore 4711 which communicates with the bore 49 in ange 46 of turret 3.

The block 54 also carries a nail-receiving magnet member 120 which is pivoted to block 54, as indicated at 121, and which is urged upwardly against a stop 122 by an inclined spring 123. The member 120 has a nailreceiving outwardly open slot 124 formed in its outer end surface, the slot 124 being formed and adapted to receive the shank of a nail 13? as illustrated, for example, in FIGURES 8 and 9.

Referring now to FIGURES 6, 9 and 12, it will be observed that the end surface of pressure rod 52 opposite that carrying head 52a has a die formation or well 5217 formed therein. The rod 52 also has an axial bore 52e in which rides a knockout pin 52d, the bore 52e having an enlarged portion or counterbore 52e in which an enlarged portion 52j of knockout pin 52a' rides. It will be observed that the pin 52d, 52j is of sufficient lineal extension so that it may extend either through an aperture 52g in cap 52a for engagement by lingers 31 or into well 5212 for engagement with a nail when the latter is positioned therein.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 7 and 9, the naildelivery track member is formed of a parallel set of elongated side walls spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the width of the nail shank 13011 of nail 130 and less than the diameter of the head 13% of nail 130 whereby said heed may support the nail in the track and the nail may drop by gravity through the inclined portion of track 25. The nails drop through a substantially elongated straight and downwardly inclined portion of track 25 and then through a curved end portion shown best in FIGURE 2, the beginning of which appears in FIGURE 7. The end portion also is continuously downwardly inclined. The nails are delivered by the track 25 to the narrow space between roller member 26 and the inner circumferential surface of hollow core 24 and member 22. The roller 26 is rotatably supported on a shaft 26a which is in turn supported on a base or arm 26b. The arm Ztib is rotatably supported on a xed shaft 140 secured to a part of the curved inner track element of track 25, the shaft 1e() being secured, for example, by nut 141 and bearing sleeve 142. A spring 143 has its opposite ends secured to shaft 140 as indicated at 144 and to an ear or abutment member 145 on arm 26.1) whereby the roller 26 may be yieldingly urged into engagement with the inner surface of core 24.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, the cam track 61 is shown in greater detail. The track 61 has a first and major circumferential portion 61a and an outwardly disposed circumferential portion 61b, the two being joined by gently curved portions 61C whereby the block 54 and its associated elements may be urged outwardly as each approaches the washer and nail-delivery means 16, 15 and whereby the assemblies 53 may be maintained in said outwardly extended position, over the dies 47, while the washers and nails are mated, the assemblies 53 being retracted as the turret 3 rotates in clockwise direction, as the parts are shown in FIGURE 8, to provide for the permanent securing of the washers 1410 to the nails 136, as will be more fully described hereinbelow. An attachment plc-.te 27a is shown clearly in FIGURE 8 and carries the deilecting finger' member 27, the nail-dellecting end portion of which appears in FIGURE 9.

FIGURES l0 and ll illustrate the xed cam member for the pressure rods 52. It will be observed that the cam track 67 comprises a pair of spaced parallel track elements 67a, 671) and that the track 67 includes a generally horizontal circumferential portion 67e and a downwardly curved portion 67d. The curved. portion 67d is broken at its lowermost point as is clearly seen in FIG- URE 10 and the cam housing is cut away, as indicated at 67e to provide for interpenetration with the pressure roller 5.

The safety cam portion 2t! includes a movable segment of the upper cam track element 67a. It will be observed that the portion 2t) extends from a point approximately 10`degrees (in relation to the direction of rotation of turret 3) beyond the point of tangency between members 3 and 22 and may include a part of the horizontal portion 67C of cam track 67, as well as a portion of the inclined segment 67d of cam track 67, the member 2t) extending to a point immediately adjacent the roller S. The member 21B is free for vertical movement against the action of suitable springs (not shown) encased in housing 21. Suitable pins 2da extend into receivers such as the flanges 2% and cam housing 4 to prevent sideways separation of members 26 and 4.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

All that is necessary to begin the operation and to apply the method of the invention is to actuate power means 17 which may, for example, take the form of an electric motor. Member 17 produces, through the gear train described, simultaneous and matched rotation of turret 3, nail-delivery means 15 and washer-delivery means 16.

As above, it will be convenient to describe the action of one assembly, it being understood that each assembly, of which there is a plurality, will function in the same manner.

As the turret 3 rotates in clockwise direction, as the parts are shown in FIGURE 8 for example, pulleys 83 and 101C are effective to rotate turnstile MB1 and to deliver washers tl), one at a time, to and immediately above the periphery of turret flange 46. The design and rotational speed of turnstile 1111 is effective to deliver a washer 1GO ahead iof each of the nests i116 as they sequentially approach the washer-delivery station or turnstile lill. Washer-positioning finger 111%, however, which may take the form of a leaf spring, overliefs the nests 116 beyond the washer delivery point and is effective to urge each washer into nesting engagement with its following nest 116. As may be best seen in FIGURE 8, the Washer and nail-receiving assemblies 53 were urged radially outwardly into washer and nail-receiving position by the cam track 61 as eac-h assembly 53 approached the washer and nail-receiving stations, the nests 116 being thus positioned in embracing relationship with dies d'7. It will be understood that the washers are presented through track 2S to turnstile 1&1 by the action of gravity, the track 2S being suitably inclined, for example as shown in FIG- URE 1, the end portion of track 253 being arranged horizontally, as best seen in FIGURE 6, for proper delivery of washer to turnstile 101.

With a washer 111i) thus positioned in nest 116 and resting upon the curved, circumferential upper surface of die portion 47o, continued rotation of turret 3 brings the assembly 53 intro tangential alignment with the member 22 and the parts are so dimensioned and controlled as to cause an outer end portion of the track 23 to be presented at such point of tangency simultaneously with the arrival of the assembly 53. As may be best seen in FIF- URES 8 and 9, the nail 13@ is urged outwardly from its engagement with its associated track 23 by the chamfered end portion of finger 27, the nail shank 130b immediately engaging in the socket 124 of nail-receiving magnet member 124). Since the member 12) is positioned immediately above the segment 115 and socket `124i is positioned immediately above and in alignment with the bore i712 and die 47, it will be observed that the nail 130 is aligned with the bore 47h and with the central aperture 109m in the washer 19t).

As the turret 3 continues to rotate, the head 52a of pressure rod 52 is carried along in cam track 67. As the `head 52a moves from horizontal cam track portion 67e toward and into the inclined portion 67d, the pressure rod 52 is urged downwardly or toward flange 46 to engage the die surface or well 52b with the head 13M of nail 13@ and to urge the nail 138 downwardly through th-e aperture rltitia in washer 10i) and into the bore 47b of die 47. No resistance is presented to the downward movement of the pressure rod 52, the head 52a merely riding upon lower track element 67b and descending by its own gravity.

When the nail was moved toward die 47 by rod 52, the magnet 12d was free to pivot and to offer only slight resistance to the movement of the nail and rod 52. The rod 52 may move beyond magnet 120 when necessary to insure insertion, for example, of shorter nails in dies 47. When the nail entered die 47, the assembly 53, being no longer needed in its outer position, was withdrawn by the action of cam track 6i and the continued rotation of turret 3.

Should there be a bent nail or other failure of the nail shank 13th: to interpenetrate with the Washer 106 and Ibore 47h, there will be a resistance to the downward movement of pressure rod 52. Such resistance will produce a corresponding, relatively upward movement of safety cam portion 2d which in turn will actuate limit or shutoff switch 36 to deactivate power means 17 and to bring the machine to an immediate stop. The oifending nail may then be simply removed, a separable por- 'tion (not shown) of skirt 68 being easily removable from safety cam portion 2t) and the location of the diiiculty being isolated.

When the rod 52 reaches the lowermost point, i.e. the point of the break in cam track 67 illustrated in FIGURE 10, the end surface of rod 52 containing well 52b will be just about to or will have just begun to encompass the washer 10h. At this point the head 52a is contacted by the surface 39 of roller 5. The head 52u then moves under roller and is smoothly and progressively pressed thereby to bring the opposite end surface of pressure rod 52 into engagement with the lshoulder 47C of die 47, as best seen for example in FIGURE 3. upstanding circumferential die surface 47a will have 'been fully received within the forming well B2b of rod 52 and the washer will have been formed and permanently secured to the head 13013 and the adjacent upper portion of the shank 130:1 of nail 13@ to form the product illustrated in FIGURE 13.

As turret 3 continues to rotate, the head 52a again engages the inclined cam track portion 67d and the rod 52 is accordingly carried upwardly, as the parts are :shown in the drawings, the lead-headed nail product being carried upwardly with the rod 52 by frictional engagement with the forming die pocket 52h. As the head 52u. :again enters the horizontal track portion 67e, only the inner edge of the head 52a is engaged by the track 67, ,as indicated for example in the left-hand portion of FIG- URE 3. Thus the opening 52g in the head 52a is avail- :able and presented to the product-ejector wheel 30 which is positioned adjacent a part of the horizontal cam track :segment 67C. As the heads 52a move beneath the wheel .3@ they engage in interpenetrating relationship with the ngers 31 on wheel Sii, as Amay be clearly seen in FiG- In so doing the d URE l2. The ngers 3i are of sufficient extension to penetrate the apertures 52g and to engage and urge the knockout pins 52C, 52] downwardly to disengage the product from the die pocket 52h. The iinished product may be received in any suitable container or conveyor (not shown) after ejection from the machine of the invention as indicated in FIGURE 12.

The amount of pressure imparted to the pressure rods 52 by the roller 5 may be adjusted as desired by merely increasing or decreasing the tension of springs 11 through rotation of cl-ements 8a, for example, on shaft 8.

The method of the invention avoids all hammering or rapid impact while nonetheless achieving the desired rapid rate of production.

The nails 134i are delivered by gravity through the track 25. It will be understood that nails thus hanging by their heads on the upper parallel surfaces forming the track 25 will tend to cause their heads to overlap and to produce a resulting angular disposition of the nail Shanks, The roller 26, however, is effective to press one, and only one, nail into each track 23 as the nail, track and roller reach the point just ahead of the engagement of roller 26 with the inner surface of hollow core 24, as may be clearly seen in FIGURE 8. Since the turntable 22 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction, as the parts are shown in FIGURE 8, and since the upper surface of member 22 is conical, it will be understood that each nail moves downwardly and outwardly through a -combination of gravity and centrifugal force so that each nail reaches the outer limit of its associated `track 23 well prior to its point of ejection therefrom, as again may be clearly seen in FIGURE 8. Each nail is then carried along the upper level surfaces 98a of circumferential wall 98 and 22a of member 22 until it rea-ches a terminus of Wall 9S whereupon the nail shank is engaged by the chamfered end surface of finger 27 and is urged outwardly from the member 22. Should it occur that two nails are carried adjacent the outer end of a single track 23, the finger member 27 will be effective to engage the outermost of such nail and to retain the second, and then unwanted, nail within the track 23.

At precisely the point at which a nail is urged outwardly by finger 27 the magnet 120 and the socket 124 are presented to the nail. The nail is required to move only a very short distance so as to fully escape the track 23 which, at this point, is beginning to move away from the nail as the members 22 and 3 rotate and to be engaged in socket 124. The nail is then held `by the member until the pressure rod 52 is permitted to descend, to engage the nail and to urge it downwardly through the washer 1Q() and die mem-ber 47.

After the nail has partially penetrated the washer 100 and the die 47 the member 53 is no longer required and the cam track 61 is effective to retract the assembly 53, the nail, being engaged with rod 52 and die 47, is held against any pull of the magnet 120. The rod 52 descends, by its own gravity, in a gradual, gentle descent controlled by the lower track element 67b oi cam track 67.

When the point is reached at which the product is to be formed and the lead washer is to be permanently secured to the nail, the pressure rod 52, washer 100 and nail are subjected to a gentle, progressive pressure created by roller 5. Thereafter the pressure rod is with drawn, carrying the finished product with it, and the product is ejected from the rod to a suitable conveyor or container.

While the steps involved in delivering washers and nails to the turret 3, in mating the washers and the nails and in thereafter securing the same together involve substantial description, it will be understood that each of these steps requires a very minimum amount of time and that a plurality of elements identical with those described are provided whereby the said steps occur in overlapping relationship with respect to the number of nails and washers, i.e while roller 5 is forming the product, a nail is 'being delivered to an assembly 53 and a washer is being delivered to a nest 116. As shown, for example, the turret 3 carries lforty-eight dies 47, forty-eight assemblies 53 and forty-eight pressure rods 52. The naildelivering assembly contains twenty-four tracks 23, the speed of rotation of turret 3 being twice that of turntable 22.

Thus the method of invention involves the smooth, progressive application of pressure alone in forming the product. The use Iof powered reciprocating action and the employment of lhigh impact for hammering action is avoided. The action employed is essentially that of rotation. Power means 17, turntable 22, turnstile 101, turret 3, pressure roller 5, nail-feeding roller 26, and ejector wheel 3i) all rotate. Assemblies 53 and rods 52 are given a smooth, easy reciprocation in response to the rotation of turret 3, assembly 53 being controlled by spring 26 and cam roller 60. Rod 52 moves in response to gravity and the urging of slide track `67.

The absence of hammering results in a quiet, vibrationfree operation. The positive presentation of a single washer and nail, one at a time, to an assembly 53 in timed relationship with a rapidly rotating turret 3 is effective to achieve a high rate of production in the neighborhood, for example, of one-thousand completed products per minute.

Since the structure of the invention is not subjected to hammering impact and vibration, the parts thereof are capable of long wear and effective to produce the desired end product on a continuous basis with minimum maintenance and down time.

While there has been described a series -of steps and an assembly of elements effective to carry out the teachings of the inventions herein, it Will be understood that individual lchanges may be made therein without departing from the nature and scope of the invention. For example while the application of a lead washer to a rail to form a lead-headed nail is described the method and structure Iof the inventions herein may well be utilized to form similar products of a variety of materials. The disclosure herein should therefore be taken as more or less representative `and diagrammatic and not as limiting the scope of the inventions disclosed.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A nail-feeding ycarousel having a generally frustoconical upper surface, a central bore in said carousel, an outer circumferential surface bounding said frusto-conical surface, a frame wall surrounding said circumferential surface in spaced relationship therewith, a plurality of nail passages communicating with said bore and extending in paths offset from the radial therefrom, each of said passages penetrating said circurnferential surface, and means f-or delivering nails sequentially to said passages for delivery therethrough in .response to gravity and rotation of said carousel, said delivery means including ya roller engaging the inner circumferential surface of said bore, and a nail track adapted to deliver nails sequentially to a point adjacent the point of contact' 'between said roller and said bore,

2. A nail-feeding carousel having a generally frustoconical upper surface, a central bore in said carousel, an outer circumferential surface bounding said frustoconical surface, a frame wall surrounding said circumferential surface in spaced relationship therewith, `a plurality of nail passages communicating with said `bore and extending in paths offset :from the radial therefrom, each of said passages penetrating said circumferential surface, and means for delivering nails sequentially to said passages for delivery therethrough in response to gravity and rotation of said carousel, said delivery means including a roller yieldingly urged against the inner circumferential surface of said bore, and a nail track adapted to deliver nails sequentially to a point adjacent the point of contact between said roller and said bore.

3. A nail-feeding assembly including a carousel having a frustoconical upper surface, a central bore in said carousel, a plurality of nail passages communicating with said bore and extending in paths offset from the radial of said carousel, said passages being of a width sufficient to receive the shanks of nails to ybe fed but insufficient to receive the heads of said nails, whereby said nail heads will rest upon said conical upper surface, means for rotating said carousel to cause nails delivered to said passages at said `bore to move outwardly through said passages from said bore, a nail track positioned to deliver nails sequentially by gravity to said bore, and a roller in frictional engagement with said bore and positioned to engage nails leaving said track and to urge said nails sequentially into said passage.

d. A nail-feeding assembly including a carousel having a frusto-conical upper surface, a central bore in said carousel, a plurality of nail passages communicating with said bore and extending in paths offset. from the radial of said carousel, said passages being of a width sufficient to receive the Shanks of nails .to be fed but insufficient to receive the heads of said nails7 whereby said nail head-s will rest upon said conical upper surface, means for rotating said carousel to .cause nails delivered to said pas sages at said bore to move outwardly through said passages from said bore, a nail track positioned to deliver nails sequentially 'by gravity to said bore, a roller in frictional engagement with said bore and positioned to engage nails leaving said track and to urge said nai-ls sequentially into said passage, and means yieldingly urging said roller into engagement with said bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 335,212 2/1886 Brosnan 221-160 X 936,029 10/1909 Perrault 221-277 X 986,777 3/1911 Standish 221-68 2,322,381 6/1943 Mueller 221-182 2,682,973 7/1954 Ballard 221-68 FOREIGN PATENTS 467,673 12/1951 Italy.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A NAIL-FEEDING CAROUSEL HAVING A GENERALLY FRUSTOCONICAL UPPER SURFACE, A CENTRAL BORE IN SAID CAROUSEL, AN OUTER CIRCUMFERENTIAL SURFACE BOUNDING SAID FRUSTO-CONICAL SURFACE, A FRAME WALL SURROUNDING SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL SURFACE IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH, A PLURALITY OF NAIL PASSAGES COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BORE AND EXTENDING IN PATHS OFFSET FROM THE RADIAL THEREFROM, EACH OF SAID PASSAGES PENETRATING SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL SURFACE, AND MEANS FOR DELIVERING NAILS SEQUENTIALLY TO SAID PASSAGES FOR DE- 